Working Groups and Topic Areas
September 25, 2008
Rural challenges and opportunities have been arranged into broad topic areas listed below. Specific working groups within each topic area have been identified. Some of the working groups may be preceded with technical work or a working paper. In some cases, a working group may not be required and staff or a consultant will develop working papers in lieu of a full working group process. For topics with several working groups, individual reports will also be assembled into one topic paper for the Board.
Land Use and Conservation: Policies and Plans That Shape Rural Areas
This topic area examines the policies and plans that affect the use of rural lands. A key objective is to understand where development may occur; however the location of conservation and recreational areas also influences how rural areas may function in the future. The interface between urban and rural areas is another important component to be addressed under this topic.
Working Groups or Working Papers
- Land Use Policies and Plans: Minimum parcel size and use, Right to Farm ordinances, Jobs-Housing ratios; Spheres of Influence, Utility and service districts; Transfer of Development Rights
- Conservation Plans: Natural resources or habitat of concern; Historic and cultural resources; Take and receiving areas; Mitigation ratios; Existing protected lands; Williamson Act
- Open Space and Recreation Plans: Beyond conservation planning areas, location of desired recreation and open space areas; Existing recreation open space lands; Private conservation lands
- Small Communities: Needed and required infrastructure; Costs and fiscal challenges; Land use decisions and tendency toward housing; Employment and economic development; Municipal and professional service needs
The Infrastructure of Agriculture: Challenges to the Production Process
This topic area covers the basic input and output components of the agriculture production process. This is a diverse topic area so five working groups will be assembled to study the range of subjects.
Working Groups or Working Papers
- Transportation: Impacts of traffic on agriculture; Movement of equipment and goods to market; Vehicle miles of travel and emissions; challenges with road improvements (including traffic increases and cost sharing); Level of service
- Processing Facilities: Closures affecting crops grown; Loss of rural jobs; Transport distance, cost, and emissions; Linking local growers with local markets
- Labor: Shortages and costs; Lost harvest; Immigration; Housing and transportation needs; Aging farmers and ranchers
- Non-labor Agriculture Inputs: Cost of land and water; Availability and cost of equipment, fuel, chemicals, seed, veterinary service, etc.
- Water: Supply and quality; Competition: urban, agriculture, and habitat uses; Costs, particularly for pumping; Conservation and storage; Flood control and aquifer recharge; Integrated Regional Water Management Plans
Economic Opportunities: New Ways to Grow Revenue
This topic area covers a number of opportunities for farmers and ranchers to increase revenues beyond traditional agriculture markets. A working group or working paper will be structure around existing or potential economic opportunities.
Working Groups or Working Papers
- Agritourism: Visits to farms, ranches, and other agriculture-related operations; Opportunities to include restaurants and hotels
- Local Markets: Restaurants, schools, hospitals, other institutions; CSAs, farmers markets, fruit stands, value added products
- National and International Markets: Product demand; Product differentiation; Supply chains
- Energy Production: Biomass to generate energy; Technology; Markets
- Carbon Sequestration: Farm and ranch practices that take carbon out of the atmosphere; Carbon trading markets
- Easements and Transfer of Development Rights: Easements types and values, including flood control; Layering potential; Private markets
- Other Economic Opportunities: solar panels, cellular phone towers, military or law enforcement training, etc.
Forest Management: Firing up Economic and Environmental Value
This working group will look at the challenges and opportunities in the forests. Forest fires, reduced timber harvests, recreation, habitat and watershed issues and costs will be detailed. The group will explore new management practices and how the aforementioned issues can be mitigated. Watershed opportunities in water storage, water quality and flood control will be studied. Carbon sequestration potential will be a key issue.
Regulations: Navigating Federal and State Environmental Guidelines
This working group will focus on understanding and meeting federal and state environmental requirements that affect rural areas including: water quality, air quality, endangered species, flood control, and pesticide use. The group will identify challenges to meeting those requirements and impacts on agriculture and land use patterns. Particular impacts on small agriculture operations will be highlighted. Possible ways to expedite review and permitting will be explored, as will regulatory reform ideas.
